Enviromental effects....


Nitrogen constitutes 78 percent of Earth's atmosphere and is a constituent of all living tissues. Nitrogen is an essential element for life, because it is a constituent of DNA and, as such, is part of the genetic code.

Health effects.....

Nitrates and nitrites are known to cause several health effects. These are the
most common effects:

*Reactions with haemoglobin in blood, causing the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood to decrease
  • Decreased functioning of the thyroid gland
  • vitamin A nitrate
  • Fashioning of nitro amines, which are known as one of the most common causes of cancer

http://www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/N-en.htm